J. C. BACH
Welt, gute Nacht Julia Doyle, Katharine Fuge, Clare Wilkinson, Jeremy Budd, James Gilchrist / The English Baroque Soloists, Sir John Eliot Gardiner [ Soli Deo Gloria / CD - released 14/Apr/2011 ] "Bach of any generation from Gardiner's eminently engaged and engaging forces is self-recommending; yet for its rarity value alone Welt, gute Nacht is as important a release as that of a B minor Mass or St Matthew Passion." (BBC Music) |
BEETHOVEN
Symphony No.10 / Symphony in C Major for Piano, Cello and Violin Op. 56 Kalichstein-Laredo-Robinson Trio / English Chamber Orchestra / Sir Alexander Gibson; City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra; Walter Weller [ Chandos Collect / CD - released 7/Aug/2003 ] *** Three Stars. Penguin Stereo Guide |
W. A. MOZART
Cosi fan Tutte (Complete Opera recorded in 1990) Karita Mattila, Anne Sofie von Otter, Thomas Allen, Francisco Araiza / Academy of St Martin in the Fields, Sir Neville Marriner [ Decca Classic Opera / 3 CD Box Set - released 1/Sep/2008 ] "A strikingly light, fresh Così with a truly superb ensemble, idiomatic and characterful; the voices are large, but only Mattila sounds a little weighty." (Five Stars BBC Music) |
MICHAEL TIPPETT
King Priam (recorded on film, 1985) BLU-RAY Kent Opera / Rodney Macann, Sarah Walker, Howard Haskin & Anne Mason / Sir Roger Norrington (cond) [ Arthaus Monarda Arts Blu-ray / Blu-ray Disc - released 1/Feb/2016 ] Rodney Macann heads a strong cast in the title role, giving a compelling performance as Priam, alongside Sarah Walker's moving portrayal of Hector's wife, Andromache. Howard Haskin plays Priam's rebellious son Paris, who elopes with Helen. |
TRADITIONAL
Carols from King's College, Cambridge (LP) King's College, Cambridge, Sir David Willcocks, Philip Ledger, with The Philip Jones Brass Ensemble [ Warner Classics / LP - released 4/Nov/2022 ] It's not Christmas without the angelic voices of the Choir of King's College, Cambridge. These fifteen popular carols were originally recorded between 1969 and 1976 |
TRADITIONAL
Christmas at King's - 35 Favourite Carols & Fantasia on Christmas Carols King's College Choir, Cambridge, Sir David Willcocks [ Decca / 2 CD - released 1/Jan/1995 ] 35 seasonal favourites to put you in the Christmas mood, plus Vaughan Williams' 'Fantasia on Christmas Carols' |
GABRIEL FAURE / MAURICE DURUFLE
Faure / Durufle: Requiems Janet Baker (mezzo) Stephen Roberts (baritone) Robert Chilcott (treble) / King's College Choir Cambridge, Sir Philip Ledger, Sir David Willcocks [ Warner Classics Masters / CD - released 3/Sep/2012 ] Since the advent of the compact disc, the Requiem in D minor, Op. 48, of Gabriel Fauré and the Requiem, Op. 9, of Maurice Duruflé have frequently been paired, not only because they neatly fit the running time, but also because they are complementary... |
Traditional
Carols From King's College Cambridge: 25 of the most popular carols Choir of King's College, Cambridge, Sir David Willcocks, Sir Philip Ledger with the Philip Jones Brass Ensemble [ Warner Classics / CD - released 17/Nov/1997 ] Twenty Five of the most popular carols on one CD. |
JOHANNES BRAHMS
Brahms: Ein Deutsches Requiem (A German Requiem) Kiri Te Kanawa (soprano) Bernd Weikl (baritone) / Chicago Symphony Orchestra & chorus / Sir George Solti [ Decca / CD - released 20/Aug/2009 ] "Solti also has good soloists: the very reliable Bernd Weikl and the lovely and accomplished Dame Kiri Te Kanawa." (Gramophone) |
GIACOMO PUCCINI / GIUSEPPE VERDI
Kiri te Kanawa sings Verdi and Puccini arias Kiri te Kanawa (soprano) / London Philharmonic Orchestra, Sir John Pritchard [ Sony / CD - released 1/Mar/1983 ] "It is a pleasure to recommend this programme of Verdi and Puccini without reservation." (Gramophone) |
WAGNER
Wagner: Das Rheingold (Complete opera) Kirsten Flagstad, Claire Watson, George London / Vienna Philharmonic, Sir Georg Solti [ Decca Heritage Masters / 2 CD - released 20/Sep/2009 ] It took a lot of effort for legendary producer John Culshaw to convince the powers-that-be at Decca that a state-of-the-art studio Ring should be recorded. With artists such as Kirsten Flagstad and George London in the cast, the recording of Die... |
RICHARD WAGNER
Wagner: Die Walkure [Acts I & III] (recorded in 1957) Kirsten Flagstad, Set Svanholm, Otto Edelmann / Vienna Philharmonic / Sir Georg Solti & Hans Knappertsbusch (Act 1) [ Decca ABC Eloquence / 2 CD - released 12/Dec/2009 ] "It is a monumental reading, sensitive and glorious and sung with admirably steady tone. No one can really mistake this singer for a young or middle-aged woman but no one could believe either that it is a woman of sixty-two with behind her a career... |
GRIEG
Orchestral Songs (rec 1957) (with Wagner-Wesendonck Lieder) Kirsten Flagstad (soprano) / BBC Symphony Orchestra / Sir Malcolm Sargent [ BBC Legends / CD - released 28/Oct/2007 ] The Farewell concert caught live from London's Royal Albert Hall in September 1957 was an emotional occasion and consisted entirely of Grieg Songs. |
BACH / HANDEL
The Flagstad Recitals Vol 4: Songs for Sunday - Sacred Arias Kirsten Flagstad (soprano) / London Philharmonic Orchestra / Sir Adrian Boult [ Decca SBS Eloquence / 2 CD - released 12/Dec/2009 ] "(The) Handel arias are definitely worth a listen and the contents give further evidence of Kirsten Flagstad's comprehensive repertoire." (MusicWeb Jan 2010) |
W.A. MOZART
Essential Mozart (Incls 'Eine kleine Nachtmusik', Piano Concertos 20, 21 & 23, Symphonies 38, 40 & 41, Clarinet Concerto & Horn Quintet) Klara Wartz (piano) the Philharmonia Orchestra / the Concertgebouw Chamber Orchestra. Sir Colin Davis etc [ Brilliant Classics / 10 CD - released 14/Aug/2005 ] The Essential masterworks in a handsome 10-CD wallet package, substantial but manageable. The great, complete masterworks together in superb performances by renowned artists. |
LUDWIG van BEETHOVEN
Beethoven: Piano Concerto No.1 & 2 Lars Vogt (piano) / City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, Sir Simon Rattle [ Warner Classics Red Line / CD - released 12/Feb/2007 ] "This is a remarkable record, as fine a recorded account of these two concertos as we have had for many a long year." (Gramophone) |
EDWARD ELGAR
Elgar: 'Enigma' Variations / Pomp and Circumstance Marches / Three Bavarian Dances / etc Leon Goossens (oboe) / Bournemouth Sinfonietta, Norman Del Mar, George Hurst / Royal Scottish National Orchestra, Sir Alexander Gibson [ Chandos 241 / 2 CD - released 1/Feb/1999 ] "A great bargain and highly recommended." (MusicWeb) |
GIUSEPPE VERDI
Verdi: Requiem Leontyne Price, Dame Janet Baker, Veriano Luchetti, Jose van Dam / Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Sir Georg Solti [ Sony Classical Masters / CD - released 1/May/2011 ] "Solti's 1977 Chicago version, with an unusually sensitive and pure-toned quartet of soloists, and with superb choral singing and orchestral playing, has all the ingredients for success." (Penguin Guide) |
KORNGOLD
Lieder des Abschieds, Op. 14 / Symphony, Op. 40 Linda Finnie (contralto) / BBC Philharmonic Orchestra / Sir Edward Downes [ Chandos Classics / CD - released 1/Aug/2007 ] Scored for large forces - the rare Symphony in F Sharp major is a work of real imaginative power and ranks alongside the major symphonic works of Mahler and Bruckner; with a powerful and deeply felt slow movement of grandiose character. |